How Modular Healthcare Buildings are Improving the Hospital Industry

The future of healthcare is not in the hospitals or clinics but in the ‘health ecosystem’ of patient care and follow-up. This has been recognized by healthcare leaders who are looking to expand their presence within an expanding digital healthcare ecosystem. As a result, they are moving away from outdated brick-and-mortar buildings towards fewer, higher-quality facilities that are more agile and efficient. Modular medical buildings have become a widely used term to describe these new types of collaborative care facilities, which can be built on existing hospital campuses, office complexes, or shopping centers. They feature smaller patient rooms, single service areas with minimal interruptions, and flexible workspaces that make it easier for staff to move from one area to another. Read on discover more about modular medical facilities and their potential benefits as the future of healthcare is embraced today…

Modular medical buildings are large, boxy structures that are intended to house a range of services within a small footprint. They are often linked together by a common roof to improve communication and collaboration between services. The buildings themselves are often linked via a digital network, such as the Internet or a mobile app.

The increasing need for large, efficient facilities that can be easily connected by pipe-lining or high-speed data networks has led to the adoption of modular healthcare developments. Rather than building a large structure that could take a decade or more to complete, developers can now create a facility that can be built more quickly with less expense. Furthermore, this offers the ability to scale the building up or down based on patient demand and the capabilities of the individual departments. Furthermore, the interdependency of services inside a building facilitates collaboration between teams working in different departments.

Here are the noted benefits of these modular buildings:

Improved efficiency - Since departments are located inside other departments, construction time is shorter, materials are cheaper and waste is kept to a minimum. The ability to tear down and rebuild the facility quickly and inexpensively also provides for quick re-use of equipment and supplies. 

Increased productivity - Working in smaller teams, practitioners can provide more personalized care and faster turnaround time between visits. This makes it easier for patients to stay connected with their doctors and receive repeat visits if needed. Additionally, the ability to move workers around quickly and the absence of long, tedious security procedures make operations more efficient. 

Easier access to patient records - Since departments are located inside other departments, there is much less disruption to patient records. This makes it easier for practitioners to see patients in a short amount of time and get them back on the same path to recovery. 

Improved collaboration - Since departments are located inside other departments, communication among teams is easier and fewer interruptions occur. This makes it easier for teams to plan and work together as a single entity, reducing the risk of breakdown and improving the overall collaboration experience for patients.

The adoption of modular medical facilities has been calculated at saving more than $3 billion over 10 years. This equates to $1.6 for every $100,000 invested. With such large savings to be had, it is no surprise that the future of healthcare is being embraced by healthcare leaders the world over. In fact, there is an increasing desire to integrate healthcare facilities more closely together. This trend is being observed across Europe, where healthcare leaders have begun to discuss the need to “reduce the distance between hospitals”.

The future of healthcare is not in the hospitals or clinics but in the ‘health ecosystem’ of patient care and follow-up. Modern, flexible, and convenient modular medical facilities provide the ideal environment for this type of care. With the adoption of modular medical facilities, health systems can create smaller, more efficient facilities that are easier to connect via digital networks. Additionally, due to the flexibility of the building design, it is possible to scale the building up or down as needed to meet growing patient demand.